Shoe



Sept; Il, 1934. c, F, Roi-IN ET Al.

SHOE

Filed Oct. 19, i933 INVNTORS.

l BY a MIA/ M, ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 11, 19344 Y UNITED STATES suon chester F. Bonn, Whitefish Bay, and Franklyn A. Rohn, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 19,

10 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of manufacturing footwear for men, women, and children, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction of shoes having cushioned heel portions.

Generally dened, an object of the invention is to provide an improved cushioned yshoe structure which may be manufactured at relatively low cost, and which is, moreover, durable in construction and comfortable in use.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide various forms of cushioned shoe structures wherein one or more pads of resilient material such as sponge rubber, are disposed within the area bounded by the inseam ridge of the inner sole in a Goodyear welt type of shoe, and especially at the heel portion of the shoe, these prior cushions have proven objectionable for numerous reasons. While some of these prior structures have been relatively satisfactory insofar as effective cushioning is concerned, they were all of rather costly construction and lacked durability, thereby not only introducing a high manufacturing cost but also causing these shoes to readily lose their perfect shape and to quickly deteriorate. One of the greatest diiiiculties encountered in the manufacture of the prior cushioned shoes, has been the rm attachment of the heels combined with a suiciently elastic heel cushion, without introducing excessive cost of construction.

It is, therefore, a more specific object of the present invention to provide a simple, compact, and highly eicient heel cushioning structure for shoes, which effectively eliminates the defects of these prior structures and which is of lasting durability.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved heel cushion especially applicable to a Goodyear welt type of shoe having a sewed heel seat, but also advantageously applicable to other types of shoes, combined with a simple and effective fastening for the heel.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a rigid heel attachment for cushioned 1933, Serial N0. 694,210

is to provide an improved shoe structure which can be readily and eifectively assembled from relatively few and simple parts, thereby permitting manufacture and sale of the shoes at minimum cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description:

A clear conception of several embodiments of the invention, and of the mode of constructing shoes manufactured in accordance with the im,- provement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through one type of improved cushioned shoe, showing the various details of internal construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the shoe of Fig. 1, a portion of the heel structure having been broken away in order to show interior parts;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the heel portion of the shoe of Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through another type of improved cushioned shoe, showing a modified form of heel cushion; and

Fig. 5` is a transverse vertical section through the heel portion of themodifled shoe, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Although the invention has in each embodiment, been shown and described herein as being specically applied to a Goodyear welt type of mens shoe with a sewed heel seat, it is not intended to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope, since some of the novel features may obviously be more generally applied to other types and classes of footwear. A

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, of the drawing, the improved cushioned Goodyear welt shoe illustrated therein comprises in general an upper 8 having the usual lining 9 and counter 10 forming a part thereof; an insole 11 provided with a continuous and integral downwardly extending inseam ridge 12; a welt `13 extending entirely around the lower portion of the upper 8 and circumscribing the insole 11; a resilient main cush ion pad 14 substantially filling the recess in the lower part of the insole 11 formed by the uninterrupted inseam ridge 12; a. unitary'4 outsole 15 extending throughout the entire area beneath the insole 11, welt 13 and pad 14; and a heel structure @mpc-fied 0f a heel base 16 and a lower heel 110 17 attached to each other and to the heel portion of the outsole 15 in superimposed relationship.

, 'I'he upper 8 including the lining 9 and counter 10, is ordinarily rmly attached to the inseam ridge 12 of the insole 11 as well as to the welt 13, by means of inseam stitching 18 of well-known form, extending entirely around the shoe. 'Ihe main resilient cushioning pad 14 may be formed of any suitable springy or resilient material such as sponge rubber, and this main pad may be composed of one or of several pieces of ordinary sheet material of such thickness that they will provide a substantial ller for the recess formed at the bottom of the insole 11 by the continuous inseam ridge 12, without having the cushion pad 14 project any appreciable distance below the ridge after assembly of the shoe. The lower portion of the insole 11 may be provided with the usual lining, and the main cushioning pad is preferably attached to this lining by means of an adhesive such as cement. The insole 11 may also be provided at the shank portion thereof, with one or more vent holes 19 as vshown in Fig. 1, in order to permit breathing of the sponge rubber cushioning pad 14. A resilient shank stiiener 20 formed of metal or other suitable material, is preferably provided directly beneath the shank portion of the main cushion pad 14, and this stiilener 20 extends rearwardly slightly beyond the breast of the heel and lies flat against the outsole 15.

TheV improved heel cushioning and retaining structure constituting an important part of the present improvement and specifically disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises in addition to the heel portion of the main cushion 14, an auxiliary cushion and a spacer or insert 21 cooperating with the auxiliary cushion. The insert 21 is preferably formed of r a hard fibrous material and is spaced as shown in Fig. 2 so that it will extend under the inseam ridge 12 and will engage the inner edge of the welt 13 throughout the heel portion of the shoe, and this insert may project forwardly beyond the breast of the heel on both sides of the shoe and may be centrally notched to receive the rear end of the shank stiener 20. The forward portion o'f the hard insert 21 may be tapered as shown, and the insert rests directly upon the outsole 15 beneath the heel portion of the main pad 14, being provided centrally of the heel with a circular opening 22. Located within this opening and also resting directly upon the heel portion of the outsole 15 beneath the main cushion 14, is the auxiliary cushioning pad 23 which may also be formed of sponge rubber or other highly resilient material. 'I'he pad 23 substantially fills the opening 22 in the insert 21, and is of substantially the same thickness as the main pad 14 but of greater thickne than the insert 21, thereby somewhat elevating the insole 11 at the heel portion of the shoe and causing the auxiliary pad 23 to become partially embedded within the main pad 14 when the outsole y15 is permanently connected to the welt 13 by stitching 25 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The stitching lnot only serves to thus unite the outsole 15 and welt 13, but also retains the insert 21 and pad 23 firmly in position.

The heel of the shoe, as previously indicated, is composed of a heel base 16 and a lower heel 17, the former of which may be formed of rubber or sole leather and may be temporarily attached directly to the heel portion of the outsole 15 with cement. The lower heel 17 is formed of rubber and has a core 26 o1' wood, leather, or other brous material permanently embedded therein as shown, and this core 26 is of the same general shape as the lower heel but is of lesser area so that it will not be visible from the exterior of the finished heel. The core 26 and the marginal` upper portion of the lower heel 17 coact directly with the bottom surface of the heel base 16 and may be temporarily cemented thereto, and the combined heel is permanently attached to the outsole 15 by a series of nails or pegs 27 formed of hard-wood or bre. These pegs 27 are driven through the rubber of the lower heel 17, and

through the peripheral portions of the core 26,

and heel base 16, and outsole 15 until the points thereof strike the hard insert 2l whereupon these points are deflected laterally into the material of the outsole 15 to thus rigidly attach the heel to the shoe without causing the pegs to penetrate the cushioning pads. After the pegs 27 have been driven home, the openings in the rubber of the lower heel 17 through which they pass, will automatically close to thereby make the nail attachment invisible and to protect the pegs from ex- DOSure to wear and weather. When the bre pegs 27 have been driven through the brous core 26, heel base 16, and outsole 15, they swell or become enlarged, and are thereafter removable only by destruction of the pegs. If the temporary cementing of the heel base 16 and lower heel 17 is, in fact, resorted to, this cementing will naturally assist the pegs in providing a rigid final attachment, and also fecilitates assembly of the shoe structure.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, the improved shoe structure shown therein is also of the Goodyear welt type, and is generally similar to that previously described, differing only in the heel cushion construction. In the modified heel cushioning structure, the outsole 15 is provided at the heel portion of the shoe, with a cen-= tral circular opening 28 within which is located a second auxiliary heel cushioning .pad 29 formed of sponge rubber or other highly resilient materal.- The auxiliary pad 23 rests directly upon the second auxiliary pad 29 and may become partially embedded therein as shown when the shoe is assembled, and the pad 29 is preferably snugly fitted within the opening 28 and rests directly upon the heel base 16 in the completed shoe. The pads 23, 29 may be of the same or of diierent diameters or shapes, and this modified structure obviously provides a triple ply cushion at being effected with the aid of the spacer or insert 21, the fibrous core 26, and the before referred to.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present improvement provides a strong and durable cushioned heel construction which may be readily manufactured at relatively low cost, andv which is, moreover, highly effective in use. The brous insert 21 while permitting utilization of the ordinary sewing or stitching 25 at the heel seat, serves the triple function of providing a partial space for the auxiliary cushion 23, of reenforcing the insole 11 at the inseam ridge 12, and of clinching the pegs 27 and thus preventing the same from penetrating the cushioning pads. The single cushion provided by the main pad 14 at the forward portion of the shoe is ordinarily suiiicient, and either one or both 0f the auxiliary cushions 23, 29 may be pegs 27l as hereinposedfbetween said padv and the outsole within utilized in order to provide additional cushioning effect at the heel of the shoe. With the type of heel cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, it is unnecessary to perforate the outsole, but with the modiiied type of Figa-4 and 5 additional cushioning eiect is obtainable. In both forms, the shoes may be readily assembled since the stitching 25 passes only through the welt 13 and outsole 15 entirely around the shoes, and the heel may be subsequently assembled and attached to the outsole 15 without sewing. While the use of metal nails and inserts is decidedly objectionable, the use`of bre or wooden nails and inserts is very advantageous and insures great strength and durability in the heel structure. The insert 2l may in some cases be extended beneath the welt 13 to the periphery of the heel, but this has been found unnecessary and introduces obstruction to the stitching 25. All of the cushion pads 14, 23, 29 may be produced from sheet sponge rubber without resorting to molding, and the fibre inserts 21 may also. be cut from commercial sheet bre. 'I'he speciiic type of lower heel 17 with its wooden core 26 is available as a commercial article and in itself, is not new, but the improved manner of attaching such a lower heel to a shoe is believed to be novel.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of assembling shoes, herein shown and described,'for various modiications within the scope of the claims and may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of a pad of relatively soft material i'llling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibrous insert interposed between said-pad and the outsole within the heel portion of the welt, a heel having a relatively hard fibrous core, and brous pegs penetrating said core and the heel portion of the outsole adjoining said insert, the ends of said pegs being in contact with said insert.

2. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of a pad 'of relatively soft material filling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibrous insert interposed between said pad and the outsole within the heel portion of the welt, a heel base coacting directly with the lower face of the heelportion of the outsole, a lower heel coacting directly with the lower face of said heel base and having a relatively hard fibrous core, and iibrous pegs penetrating said core and said heel basev and the heel portion ofthe outsole adjoining said insert, the ends of said pegs being in contact with said insert.

3. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of a soft rubber pad lling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibre insert interthe heel portion of the welt, a rubber heel having a core of wood embedded therein, and non-metallic pegs penetrating said core and the heel portion of the outsole adjoining said insert, the ends of said pegs being laterally deflected by contact with said insert. f o

4. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt', and outsole; of a soft rubber pad iilling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard brous insert interposed between said pad and the outsole within the heel y[of the outsole within the welt portion of the welt, a heel base coacting directly with the lower face o1' the heel portion of the outsole, a. lower heel formed of rubber and coacting directly with the lower face of said heel base and having a core of wood, and fibrous pegs penetrating said core and said heel base and the heel portion of the outsole adjoining said insert, the ends of said pegs being laterally deflected by contact with said insert. l

5. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of an upper pad of relatively soft material filling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibrous insert interposed between said pad and the outsole within the heel portion of the welt and having a central opening, a lower pad of relatively soft material disposed within said openingand between said upper pad and the outsole, a heel having a relatively hard rlbrouscore, and brous pegs penetrating said core and the heel ,portion of the outsole adjoining said insert and around. said opening, the ends of said pegs contacting with said insert.

6. In a shoe, the combination with an' insole, welt, and outsole; of an upper pad of relatively soft material lling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibrous insert interposed between said pad and the outsole within the heel portion of the welt and having a central circular opening, a lower pad of relativelyv soft material filling said opening and being disposed between said upper pad and the outsole, a heel base coacting directly with the lower face of the heel portion of the outsole, a lower heel coacting directly with the lower face of said heel base and having a relatively hard fibrous core, and iibrous pegs penetrating said core and said heel base and the heel portion of the outsole adjoining said insert and around said opening, the ends of said pegs contacting with said insert. 4

1. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of a sponge rubber pad lling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard fibrous insert "under the inseam ridge, a rubber heel having a f core of wood,and brous pegs penetrating said core and the heel portion of the outsole adjoining said insert, the ends of said pegs contacting with ysaid insert.

8. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of-anupper pad of sponge rubber lling the recess formed by the inseam ridge with the heel portion of the insole,'a hard bre insert interposed between said pad and an outsole and extending beneath the inseam ridge, said insert having a central opening therein, a lower pad disposed within said opening between said upper pad and the heel portion of the outsole, a rubber heel having a core of wood, and fibrous pegs penetrating said core and the heel portion and around said opening the ends of said pegs contacting only with said insert.

9. In a shoe, the combination with an insole. welt, and outsole; of anI upper pad of relatively soit material lling the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard tlbrous insert interposed between said pad and the outsole and extending beneath the inseam ridge of the insole, said insert having. an opening therein, an intermediate pad of relatively soft material disposed within said opening, a lower pad of relatively soft material disposedbeneath said intermediate pad and coniined within an opening in the heel portion of the outsole, a heel having a relatively hard fibrous core, and brous pegs penetrating said core and the heel portion of the outsole peripherally beyond said intermediate and lower pads, the ends of said pegs contacting only with said insert.

10. In a shoe, the combination with an insole, welt, and outsole; of an upper pad of sponge rubber'illing the recess formed by the inseam ridge at the heel portion of the insole, a hard nonmetallic insert interposed between said pad and the outsole and extending beneath the inseam ridge of the heel portion of the insole, said insert said insert.

l CHESTER F. ROI-IN.

' FRANKLYN A. ROHN. f 

